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Metairie officially has its own flag: Here's what went into designing it

Metairie officially has its own flag: Here's what went into designing it

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Updated: 2:37 PM CDT Oct 3, 2018

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WEBVTT HE SAYS HE WAS TAUGHT TO KEEP CALM AND NEVER PANIC. RANDI: WOW. IT’S A NEW EFFORT TO ATTRACT VISITORS TO JEFFERSON PARISH, THE CONVENTION AND VISOTRS BUREAU IS LETTING US IN ON ITS NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN TODAY CALLED JUST IMAGINE, WHICH FEATURES THE IMAGINATION MOVERS AS SPOKESPERSONS. IT’S A PUSH TO GET MORE FOLKS TO JEFFERSON PARISH BY PROMOTING ITS MANY ATTRACTIONS, LIKE THE SWAMPS NEAR BARATARIA, BAYOU SEGNETTE, AND ITS MANY NATURE TRAILS. WITH LOUISIANA BEING ONE OF THE TOP FISHING DESTINATIONS IN THE AREA, THE PRESIDENT SAYS JEFFERSON OFFERS A GREAT DEAL FOR THE OUTDOOR TOURIST WITH GENEROUS CATCH LIMITS AND FOOD. HE SAYS THEY ARE ALSO TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE SHOPPERS OUT THERE, WITH PLACES LIKE LAKESIDE MALL AND MULTIPLE BOUTIQUES. THE NEW AD CAMPAIGN IS

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Metairie officially has its own flag: Here's what went into designing it

Metairie might not officially be a city, but it's got its own flag now.

The Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals, part of the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, officially unveiled the first flag of Metairie.

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"The Metairie flag is quite literally a banner opportunity to promote excitement and interest in where we live,” said Matt Miller, 2018 JCYP chairman. "With a cohesive symbol for Metairie, and more broadly the entire unincorporated region along Metairie Ridge, we hope to unite the area and make a lasting cultural impact."

Metairie's flag was developed through 18 months of research, design and a selection process. Officials said it celebrates the unincorporated area's people, culture, history and ideals as the city of New Orleans celebrates its 300th anniversary.

The flag features a diverse French-Spanish-American heritage, with a nod to the history and ancestry of Louisiana and New Orleans, the team said in a news release.

It features three golden fleur- and coeurs-de-lis in trinity arrangements that represent tradition, wisdom, opportunity, prosperity, opportunity, faith and innovation.

Officials said the red and blue background and the thin white stripe signify the principles of natural liberty, equal justice and limited, transparent government.

"The couer-de-lis is both a historic and fresh perspective on our more familiar local icon. It’s the blossoming heart of the fleur-de-lis,” the JCYP Flag Committee said. "There’s also a noticeable dialogue among the flag’s symbols, a conversation between our youth and maturity, our past and present, our history and future."

The group said it is distributing the flags throughout the community in partnership with the Jefferson Chamber Foundation. The tax-deductible donations will benefit the Metairie area and fund other JCYP projects.

According to the group, Metairie, originally part of the city of New Orleans, is the largest community in Jefferson Parish and the fourth largest in Louisiana. It's also the fifth-largest census-designated place in the United States.

The group said it wants to use the flag as a way to spark place and identity for the Metairie area and its associated Metairie Ridge communities of Jefferson, Elmwood and River Ridge.